When the Visigothic kingdom was conquered by Tariq ibn-Ziyad 711 most of Spain
became a part of the Arabic Caliphate. An almost 800 year long period
with Muslim states in Spain began and the Muslim land became known as "al Andalus"
(Andalusia). One member of the deposed Umayyad dynasty conquered Andalusia
from the Abbasid caliphs and created the emirate of Córdoba 756 (caliphate
from 929). This state became an important cultural and economic centre in
the Moslem world and also controlled a large part of North Africa. But in
the beginning of the eleventh century it was weakened by civil wars and it
collapsed 1031 and was replaced by several petty states, so called taifas.
The threat from the Christian kings in the north made them seek protection
from the Almoravids who controlled Morocco. The Almoravids united Andalusia 1090
but was 1147 them selves replaced by the Almohads who also came from North
Africa. The battle of Navas de Tolosa led however to a crushing defeat for the
Almohads against a Christian coalition. Local Arab rulers took over control
over Andalusia while the Almohads fled to North Africa. But these petty states
were conquered one by one the following decades and only the kingdom of Granada
managed to evade conquest by the Christians by allying themselves with Castile
and accept their supremacy 1246. Granada would continue to exist as a state for
250 years. But it was conquered by Spain 1492 after a long war started by its
king's refusal to the pay tribute.

The
Almohads' control of Andalusia collapses after the
defeat at Navas de Tolosa 1212 and disappear completely
1230. In North Africa the Almohad Empire is conquered
by the Marinids 1269. The only Muslim country in
Andalusia to escape conquest by the Christians is the
newly formed kingdom of Granada.